kris12

Hey. I am currently in graduate school for synthetic organic chemistry. I originally started in 2000 with intentions of getting my Ph.D., but after finally deciding that it is not the right decision for me, I will be leaving with my Master's degree (as soon as I get a job and can write my thesis). My program consisted of 1 full year of classes and then research until you can complete your dissertation (a total of about 5.5 years) (the Master's degree here is the booby prize for not finishing your Ph.D.). I love being in the lab, at the bench, so the research part was okay, provided it was working. I have been in the lab for almost 3 full years and anly about 1/8 of the stuff I have worked on has worked (and no, it's not me , it's the nature of chemistry). It's very frustrating and I don't like coming here 6 days of the week. Besides, a Ph.D. will not allow me to do that which I want to do. Now, I am in the process of looking for jobs (I have 2 interviews coming up soon). Generally for me, I will be making drug candidates. Someone will come up with an interesting structure and then I will make it to be tested for activity. I am very much looking forward to this. I will able to give input into the design of structures and syntheses as needed, as well. But, a friend of mine, who has a Bachelor's degree is currently doing this kind of job already and is taking classes at night for her Master's degree (I don't think there is any specific research required). I don't think that her job is going to change all that much after she has gotten her Master's. Have you considered looking for a chemistry position with your Bachelor's degree? There are many chemical companies out there in California and the market is better for Master's and Bachelor's candidates than Ph.D.s at this point. Check out nextwave.sciencemag.org/us/ and www.chemistry.org for job opportunities and look in the magazine Chemical and Engineering News (there are quite a few job listings in the current (March 8, 2004) issue). I think that I answered your questions to the best of my ability. But, feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Oh well, at least I tried, maybe it will pick up now that I am gone. It's time for Happy Hour. It's martini time woo! Have a good weekend. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

The haiku thread goes slow so far today, maybe this will BUMP it up! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

almost 3 here, just 2 hours until happy hour get my drink on - woo! I think that I will return to do some drunken post-whoring. Much fun! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Oh yeah. Definitely agree! Very very hot!!

Extraordinary - Liz Phair and earlier today Take a Picture - Filter. I just listen to music all day and whatever I hear last or if it sticks out in my head is what usually in there. Half the time it's not even a song I like! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

My friend Jeff brought it up. While in college he and some friends went, got trained and then got winded out. Fast forward a couple of years and he decides it's time to go again. This time when he asked me I had both the money and the time. After deciding that I would jump, I saw the Golden Knights jump into Veteran's Stadium (in Philadelphia) and knew that I just had to try it. Did my tandem and 2 weeks later I was back to continue the progression with my father and sister who made their first jumps that day. I'm kind of glad that they got winded out the first time so that I was able to go the second time. My 2 year anniversary of my first tandem is at the end of April.

I thinking that it's going to be a great and busy weekend! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Fantastic weather this weekend boogie - cross keys- jump my ass off wooo! So happy, but must repack main tonight, ensure nice soft opening. Can't sit still now, time goes so slow waiting for morn' jumpity jump jump! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Scott is Teri going to be there and jumping? I promised to jump with her (after I jumped with you).... Man, that was so long ago already! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

In addition to all of the other good reasons people do solos that have already been mentioned here, I do solos to relax. No pressure, I can work on a skill or just hang out and enjoy the air. It allows me to get rid of some nervousness from having a layoff or the get over something that may not have gone as well as I wanted it to on a previous jump. I like them, but I like jumping with people more. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

For 5 grand hop & pops I think that it's $12. That's the lowest that I know the price for (I couldn't find it on the website) And check out this page for directions. www.skydivecrosskeys.com And generally, even on the really cold weekends, it seems as if there are always people there. Everyone tries hard to get the load up if someone really wants to jump. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Just catch the repeat of it tomorrow at noon. And it was really good (I stayed up until 1 AM to watch all of it). Skydiving and the training was shown very truthfully. There was also some great video of Adam's (referred to as "The Natural") first jump. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Clicky versions of those links: the story and tips and guidelines the dropzone.com post

I will be there, as will my sister (alcarterra) and another friend of ours - Stacey. With the fantastic weather predicted for the entire weekend, it will hopefully be pretty busy. All of the regulars should be there! Woooooo! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

finally, better weather, going to jump lots on Sat. and leap day! I need a fix bad, it's been too long since good jump have a good weekend! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

I don't have any tattoos, but I do have 11 piercings (used to be 12). After the typical ear lobe piercings (3 in right ear (only one left now), 2 in left), I got my tongue pierced when I was a sophmore in college. I always loved the way it looked and I wanted one (I had wanted to get my nose pierced since some time in middle school). It was me. I was trying to assert who I was, because it could be hidden in there or just flashed briefly. I had it for 6 years, as I took it out at the end of this past October because it was wearing on my gums. Then I got 2 upper cartilage piercings in my left ear because I was still on the kick from getting the tongue done. And they looked good. I then spent a summer (1998) in Colorado doing research and wanted something to commemorate it. In my right ear, just above the tragus in the cartilage, I had a small ring put. It was also the first piercing I had done without anyone else around. Summer of 1999 I spent in Connecticut and decided to get another ear piercing. I got my conch done (barbell). It's a great piercing that not many people see and get freaked out when they see both sides of it. January 2000 about 1 month after I turned 21 and 4 months before I finished college, I had my rook (top left piercing) done. It was to symbolize that I was finishing up college and a birthday present to myself. It's my favorite piercing and I can actually hide it, as it can go behind the cartilage. November 2000, I had been in graduate school for a few months, so I got an orbital piercing punched in my upper right cartilage. When people ask me if a certain piercing hurt, I say "No, but this one did." and point to the orbital. It's cool and I like it lot, but it does have a tendency to be painful and get in the way. I am going to be going on job interviews soon, so I may have to take it out. Or maybe I will take it out, let the hole closest to my ear close up and put in new ring in the other one. And finally, I had 2 more cartiledge piercings done (2001) in my left ear just under the 2 that were already there (see rook picture above). I was thinking about doing rings all the way down. But then I started skydiving and haven't had the desire to get anything else done. I have thought about tattoos, but after I think about it for a while, I am never sure that I still want one. I can always get one later. Sorry for the long winded post, but those are the stories behind my piercings, as each one means something to me. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

I worked hard to make all of the requirements for my licenses. A-41574, C-34326. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Yeah, I know the feeling about just catching it on TV. Thanks. I just wanted to be sure that if it was new (to me), I could be on the lookout for it. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Was it on Blind Date or A Dating Story on TLC? I know of the Dating story at Cross Keys with Dave Pancake doing a tandem into the golf course with his blind date. But, I haven't heard of Mike. Oh and a Makeover story (also on TLC) has been done at Cross Keys too. Oh and skydivingmovies.com is no more. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Here's your answer. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

This isn't the exactly the same thing, but... I wear prescription glasses. When I wear safety glasses in the lab, even if they are just the plastic ones with absolutely no prescription, my eyes will start to hurt. My eyes just get tired and I have to take the safety glasses off. I don't know what I am going to do when I am going to have to wear them all the time... Good luck to you with yours. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

Yep. Me too. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

I'd love to see a video of that! Was the pond still frozen over or has it thawed? True about the fleas though. I am willing to jump from a 182, as I am a turbine brat, but I can't take days off of work. kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

I wear a Protec. It has good crash protection, it's the only helmet I currently own (and don't particularly want to shell out for new one, nor am I able to at this point) and it's covered in cool stickers! kristen swooo #3 MB #3587 P.M.S. #66 "so let go, jump in...what're you waiting for? it's all right 'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"